Teaching German

Europe

Inside the Italian elections

Italien Wahlen Wahlplakate

Italian elections are a confusing phenomenon, at best. A mass of parties and coalitions hold together for the elections, but start cracking apart as soon as actual bills and policies have to be agreed upon. This year, the country went to the polls on February 24 and 25, after a little more than a year of a technocratic government following Berlusconi's downfall amid the euro crisis in November 2011.

The vote ended without a party winning a clear mandate from voters with comedian and blogger Beppe Grillo and former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi finishing better than many expected behind Pier Luigi Bersani.

DW talked with political experts, psychologists, market researchers, and some Italians themselves to find out more about the vote that will make waves outside Italy.